Are you considering a reverse mortgage loan to supplement your retirement income or meet other financial goals? It's important to understand the risks and benefits of this type of loan before making a decision. The answer is yes, you can lose your home with a reverse mortgage. When you apply for a reverse mortgage loan, your home title stays with you. If you move, sell your home, or the last surviving borrower or eligible spouse who didn't apply for it dies, you or your estate must repay the HECM loan, but you'll never owe more than the value of the home. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), secures HECMs.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) were first introduced in the mortgage industry. In addition to the financial obligations mentioned above, there are other requirements for a reverse mortgage. You must be at least 62 years old to get a reverse mortgage and have enough equity in the home. You can own the house for free or still have a mortgage on it and it must be your primary residence. Reverse mortgages have a 3-day period immediately after the closing of your loan, in which you can cancel the transaction without penalty.
This is known as the right of withdrawal and allows you to change your mind if you feel remorse on the part of the buyer right after signing the closing documents. Within 20 days, the lender will return all fees, closing costs and unused funds paid by the borrower. If you decide to exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform your lender in writing. Remember, this time period lasts until just 3 days after closing. After that, you can't pay off your loan without penalty.
Another refinancing option is to refinance the reverse mortgage and convert it into a conventional loan. The loan will pay off your reverse mortgage and you'll make your monthly mortgage payments again. This can help you maintain and increase the net worth of your home and your heirs to avoid any problems related to a reverse mortgage if you die. Once again, keep in mind that there are closing costs associated with this type of refinancing and you'll need to make monthly payments on your loan. Before choosing this option, make sure that you can afford it. Even after learning about inverted mortgages and considering the pros and cons and carefully choosing to get the loan to achieve your goals, you may want to get out of your reverse mortgage.
It's also possible to borrow the limit of your reverse mortgage and not be able to borrow additional funds later on. A reverse mortgage works by taking the capital you have accumulated in your home and using it first to pay your current mortgage. The CFPB recommends that both spouses and long-term domestic partners co-borrow reverse mortgages. No matter how few dollars you get through a reverse mortgage, it ensures that you can live in your house forever. However, the only way to prove if interest is deductible is to keep a record that shows exactly how you used the funds from a reverse mortgage. One of the easiest ways to get out of a reverse mortgage is to sell the house and use the proceeds from the sale to repay the loan.
This concern extends to those who get a reverse mortgage to help supplement their retirement income. Even if one spouse moves to a long-term care facility, there's no need to repay the reverse mortgage until the second spouse moves out or dies. When considering your options, it may be best to talk to a financial advisor or an inverted mortgage advisor who is approved by HUD. Learn how much capital you need to get a reverse mortgage to supplement your retirement income or meet other financial goals. It's important for seniors considering a reverse mortgage loan to understand all their options before making any decisions. With careful planning and research, seniors can make an informed decision about whether or not they should pursue a reverse mortgage loan.
